Wikipedia

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English Wikipedia HomePage 2001-12-20

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List of Wikipedia articles by language - March 2024

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Wikipedia editing interface

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia that is open source and collaboratively edited by volunteers from around the globe. It was launched on January 15, 2001, by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Wikipedia is hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization that also oversees other free knowledge projects. The platform supports articles in multiple languages, making it one of the largest and most popular reference websites on the Internet.

History

The concept of Wikipedia emerged from an earlier project called Nupedia, a free online encyclopedia that was more traditionally structured with expert-written and peer-reviewed articles. However, Nupedia's progress was slow, leading to the proposal of a more open, collaborative platform. Wikipedia quickly surpassed Nupedia in article count and user engagement, leading to its eventual obsolescence.

Content and Editing

Wikipedia's content is written by volunteer editors who follow its principle of neutrality and verifiability. Articles can be edited by anyone with access to the site, although certain restrictions are applied to prevent vandalism and maintain quality, such as semi-protection and full protection for high-risk pages.

The encyclopedia covers a vast range of topics, from history and science to pop culture and current events. Its internal linking system helps readers navigate related topics easily, enhancing the learning experience.

Policies and Guidelines

Wikipedia operates under a set of core policies that include Neutral Point of View (NPOV), verifiability, and no original research. Editors are encouraged to cite reliable sources and engage in consensus-building on talk pages to resolve disputes.

Community and Administration

The Wikipedia community consists of editors, administrators, and other contributors who communicate through various channels, including article talk pages, project pages, and Wikimedia mailing lists. Administrators are experienced members of the community who are granted additional tools to help maintain the site.

Impact and Reception

Wikipedia has had a significant impact on the way people access and share knowledge. It is widely used by students, educators, and professionals as a starting point for research. However, its open-editing model has also raised concerns regarding accuracy and reliability. Despite this, studies have shown that Wikipedia's accuracy is comparable to traditional encyclopedias.

Challenges

Wikipedia faces ongoing challenges, including combating misinformation, addressing systemic bias, and ensuring the diversity of its editor base. The Wikimedia Foundation and the wider community are actively working on initiatives to tackle these issues.

External Projects and Sister Sites

In addition to Wikipedia, the Wikimedia Foundation hosts several other free knowledge projects, including Wiktionary, Wikiquote, Wikibooks, Wikisource, Wikiversity, Wikispecies, Wikivoyage, and Wikimedia Commons. These projects complement Wikipedia and expand the foundation's mission to provide free access to the sum of all human knowledge.

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